An unusual bill aimed at prohibiting people from Petting Sharks in Iowa surfaced in the state legislature, sparking debate and highlighting concerns around interactive animal encounters at aquariums. This legislative effort, though initially unsuccessful, brings to the forefront questions about animal safety, public interaction with wildlife, and the responsibilities of businesses offering such experiences.
The proposed bill, introduced by Republican Representative Ray “Bubba” Sorensen, was a direct response to an incident at the Blue Zoo aquarium in West Des Moines. In July, an employee at the aquarium sustained a bite from an 18-inch bamboo shark while on duty. This event prompted Sorensen to take action, seeking to add sharks to Iowa’s list of dangerous and wild animals. House File 24, as the bill was named, proposed that anyone allowing public contact with these newly classified dangerous animals, or enabling their escape, would face legal repercussions, specifically an aggravated misdemeanor carrying a potential two-year prison sentence.
During a House subcommittee meeting, Sorensen clarified the intent behind his bill. He emphasized that it wasn’t designed to shut down Blue Zoo entirely, but rather to prevent the public from petting sharks. Blue Zoo, which opened its doors in May as an interactive aquarium at Jordan Creek Town Center, allows visitors to feed and pet both stingrays and bamboo sharks in a shallow pool. In addition to sharks and rays, the aquarium also features parakeets and reptiles like tortoises, lizards, and frogs, offering a range of hands-on animal experiences.
Angela Caulk, representing the Humane Society of the United States as a contract lobbyist, voiced support for the bill. She argued that passing it would be a proactive step towards preventing future shark bites in Iowa. Caulk pointed out that while Blue Zoo could continue to house sharks, the legislation would necessitate a shift from interactive petting to traditional display. She also highlighted the seemingly incongruous nature of a shark bite incident in landlocked Iowa, raising questions about the appropriateness of such interactions in the state.
However, the bill met with resistance within the subcommittee. Republican Representative John Wills expressed reservations about legislation that appeared to target a single business within Iowa. “We govern the state of Iowa, not West Des Moines,” Wills stated, indicating a concern about the bill’s narrow focus. Despite these concerns, Wills and another subcommittee member, Representative Dean Fisher, showed interest in further consideration of the bill after seeking additional clarification, leaving the possibility of its revival open.
Sorensen defended the legislation as addressing a broader safety issue that warrants state regulation. He argued that allowing people to reach into “a bed of sharks” poses an inherent risk. Drawing on his past experience working with sharks at Walt Disney World, Sorensen emphasized the potential dangers involved in such close encounters.
Adding another layer to the debate, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal inspection report, issued shortly after Blue Zoo’s opening, raised concerns about the facility’s animal treatment practices. Notably, Blue Zoo is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a leading organization setting animal care standards. The USDA report detailed an incident where a child accidentally killed a parakeet in the interactive enclosure shortly after the aquarium opened. Furthermore, the report mentioned that the bamboo shark involved in biting the employee was euthanized after paramedics were unable to detach its teeth from the employee’s hand.
Angela Caulk from the Humane Society used the USDA report to further underscore her concerns, stating that the conditions at Blue Zoo were “not the greatest living conditions for those animals.” In response to the bite incident, Blue Zoo reportedly implemented some operational changes, including requiring employees to wear gloves to mitigate future bite risks. Despite requests for comment, Blue Zoo officials did not publicly address the proposed bill or the USDA report at the time of the original news coverage.
While Iowa’s “petting sharks” bill did not initially move forward, it sparked an important conversation about the balance between interactive animal experiences, public safety, and animal welfare in aquariums and similar facilities. The debate highlights the complexities of regulating businesses that offer close encounters with wildlife and raises questions about the ethical considerations of “petting sharks” and other potentially dangerous animals.
